PORTABLE STORE ASSISTANT

The portable store assistant (PSA) is a device to assist shopper with their shopping
activities. It will also help to increase the efficiency in management of the store
through the implement of service provided to customer. This device consists of a
complete system that incorporates a barcode scanner, a display screen, database and
wireless link to electronic point of sales. It provides self-scanning, ninning trolley
totals, price checks and easy self-checkout. It will be able to scan the items that
placed in the trolley, allowing the customers to pay without wasting time to queue at
the checkout counters. This device will be attached to the shopping trolley and would
be using a barcode scanner to scan the items and at the same time will display the
price of the items at the screen. Wireless technology will be used to send the
information from the device to the checkout counters. The customer no longer has to
empty the trolley and place the individual products on the conveyor belt. The
checkout prints the receipt as usual and the customer pays the amount shown. This
will saves the checkout counter and the customer significant time and increase the
efficiency of the shopping activities. A simulation of the system was successfully
developed for this project.